Targeted marketing for subscriptions

ABSTRACT

A system and method for utilizing point of sale data to target individuals with invitations for magazine subscriptions. A consumer receives an invitation for a magazine subscription and can purchase a magazine subscription in a retail store. When the consumer purchases a subscription at a retail store, they receive a cash incentive redeemable at the store. Consumers are made offers depending on selecting criteria including purchasing a magazine or being in the top percentage of spenders.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to marketing. More particularly, theinvention relates to marketing using Point of Sale (POS) systems.

Magazine publishers have used common direct marketing data modeling toidentify prospective subscribers based on demographics, psycho graphics,and lifestyle data. Subscription purchases were paid for with a creditcard, check or redemption of loyalty points. The current state of theart relies on either “bill me later” or credit card payment for magazinesubscriptions.

Terms used in this application are defined below.

Database, in this application, means data organized in some format in acomputer memory that can be accessed by an associated computer system.Such a concept is also referred to as a database management system. Adatabase or database management system includes commercial databaseproducts such as the Microsoft Access and SQL Server, as well as any setof files stored in computer memory that can be accessed by an associatedcomputer system.

Value means a good, a service, or a pecuniary interest including cash,check, credit, and conditional credit.

Transaction, in this application, means an exchange involving at leasttwo legal entities. A purchase is a transaction. Receipt of an incentiveoffer, redemption of an incentive offer, and acceptance of participationin a consumer survey are transactions.

Purchase, in this application, means a transaction involving at leasttwo parties in which cash, check, charge or credit is exchanged for oneor more goods and services.

Incentive offer, in this application, means value offered to a consumerthe receipt of which by the consumer is contingent upon the consumerentering into a specified transaction. An incentive offer is sometimesreferred to as incentive.

Cash incentive, in this application, is a type of incentive offer thatinvolves giving the consumer cash in response to the consumer enteringinto the specified transaction.

CID, in this application, means a consumer identification code linked toa consumer. A CID can be a credit card number, a driver's licensenumber, a social security number, a frequent shopper card code, or anidentification code uniquely associated with the consumer or theconsumer's household.

POS, in this application, means point of sale, which is the area where aconsumer engages in transactions.

POS terminal, in this application, means a terminal where transactiondata is entered. A POS terminal may also be referred to as a checkout.

Retail store POS terminal, in this application, means a POS terminalphysically located inside of or adjacent a retail store such thatcustomers can walk with items from the retail store that they wish topurchase to the retail store POS terminal.

Product purchase data includes data regarding products purchased, priceof products purchased, date of purchase, type of payment, redemptionamounts, products that qualified for redemptions, subscription amount,periodical publication for which a subscription is sold, incentive offerdata including incentive amounts and conditions, and CID associated withthe purchases.

Transaction data means data associated with a specified transaction.Transaction data includes transaction price, transaction date,description of items involved in the transaction, location of thetransaction (such as POS terminal, POS lane, identification of store),credit authorization data, and entities involved in the transaction(such as cashier, purchaser, store, credit card company, and purchaser'sbank).

POS data, in this application, is the data entered at or transmitted toa POS terminal in connection with a transaction. POS data may includetransaction data and product purchase data.

UPC, in this application, means a Universal Product Code, and it is acode that uniquely identifies a type of product.

Periodical publication, in this application, means information that isperiodically published and associated with a name, such as a name of amagazine or a name of a news paper. Periodical publications include bothinformation published on paper and information published electronically.

Issue, in this application, as it pertains to a periodical publication,means a document of published information identified by the name of theperiodical publication.

Subscription, in this application, means a contract for purchase ofissues of a periodical publication, such as for all or certain issuedpublished over a specified duration, for a specified number of issues,or for a specified number of types of issues such as only weekend ormonthly issues. A subscription may define the mechanism of delivery,such as deliver of paper to a residence address, email to an emailaddress, or posting on a web site for retrieval by a web browser.

Subscription offer, in this application, means an offer for purchase ofa subscription to a periodical publication, such as a printed orelectronically distributed magazine or newspaper.

Subscription duration, in this application, means the duration overwhich a periodical publication will be distributed to the personpurchasing the subscription.

Invitation, in this application, means a solicitation that is associatedwith a transaction and that includes an offer to purchase, such as anoffer to purchase a subscription to a periodical publication, a product,or a service. The invitation may include the terms of the offeredsubscription and one or more incentive offers associated with the offerto purchase the subscription.

Invitation code, in this application, is data defining a code that isassociated with an invitation. An invitation code may be embodied as anunique bar code. Preferably, the code is unique, in the sense that it isassociated in a database with data that uniquely identifies theinvitation.

Invitation offer criteria, in this application, means criteria thatdetermines whether an invitation will be offered to a consumer.

Transaction tracking code, in this application, means a unique codeassociated with a transaction. The transaction tracking code is alsoassociated with a periodical publication's name, such as a magazine'sname, the duration of a subscription, and the price for thesubscription. This is also referred to as unique tracking code. Theassociation typically exists in computer memory in a database.

Confirmation, in this application, means an acceptance by a consumer ofan invitation, as indicated by the customer's purchasing thesubscription offered in the invitation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to effectively promote sales of periodicalpublications.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system that enablesindividuals to purchase subscriptions to periodical publications usingPOS systems technology.

Another object of the invention is to promote sales of periodicalpublications using POS system technology.

It is another object of the invention is to enable both offers for saleof items that are not items stocked in a retail store (non stock items)and receipt of payment for non stock items at the retail store's POSterminal.

Another object of this invention is to effectively deliver invitationsto consumers by applying criteria to POS data associated with theconsumers to determine to which consumers to deliver an invitation.

Another object of this invention is to effectively deliver invitationsto consumers by applying criteria to POS data associated with theconsumers to determine which of a plurality of invitations to deliver toany particular consumer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system that can deliverto a consumer an invitation that include a code, typically embodied inbar code format, wherein the code is associated in a database with theterms of the subscription offer defined by the invitation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system that can delivera confirmation message that includes a unique tracking code,confirmation of order (magazine name, term, price) and value.

Another object of this invention is to enables retailers to earncommissions on subscriptions purchased using their POS systems.

Another object of this invention is to provide invitations that includean incentive offer the terms of which include the consumer purchasingthe corresponding periodical subscription in specified retail store orchain of retail stores.

These and other objects of the invention are provided by a novelcomputer network system including a retail store computer system havinga POS terminal, a database containing at least POS data associated witha consumer's POS transactions, computer means for determining whether aconsumer meets invitation criteria, and means to deliver an invitationto the consumer, means to receive from the consumer acceptance of theinvitation, and means to activate a subscription for the consumer.

The novel computer network system enables invitations to be offered to aconsumer at a POS terminal while the consumer is at the POS terminal, atthe consumer's residence address via mail, at an email addressassociated with the consumer, or via a web site to which the consumercan point a Web browser program residing on a the consumer's computer.

The novel computer network system enables invitations to be targeted toconsumers meeting invitation offer criteria, such as data indicatingpurchase by the consumer of an issue of a periodical publication,purchase of an issue of a periodical publication competing with theperiodical publication for which an invitation may be offered, purchaseof any issue of any periodical publication, purchase of publication,demographic data, which may indicate a preference for information of atype associated with the periodical publication for which an invitationmay be offered, analysis of POS data associated with the consumercategorizing the consumer in a category relatively likely to accept aninvitation, analysis of POS associated with the consumer indicating ademographic associated with the content of the periodical publicationfor which an invitation may be offered, or analysis of POS data rankingconsumers in a population (such as a ranking identifying consumers byamount spent).

The novel computer network system enables an invitation provided to aconsumer to be accepted by the consumer at a POS terminal, and itenables the POS system to identify the specified invitation and consumeraccepting the invitation by having a bar code associated with theinvitation scanned at the POS terminal. Alternatively, the consumer mayaccept the invitation by mailing the invitation and check or creditauthorization to a specified location where a bar code associated withthe invitation may be scanned to read into computer memory theinvitation, the consumer, and preferably the check or creditauthorization. Alternatively, the consumer may accept the invitation byproviding specified data over the Internet to a web site associated withthe invitation, and preferably returning a retail store associated withthe invitation to obtain the value and comply with any additional termsassociated with any incentive offers included in the invitation.

The novel computer network system enables the charge to the consumer foraccepting an invitation to be included in a transaction by the consumerat a POS terminal for other goods and services.

The novel computer network system enables the data associated with thepayment at a POS terminal of a retail store by the consumer foraccepting the invitation to stored in a database, and thereby enablesthat payment to be efficiently divided between the retailer and thecompany producing the periodical publication.

Since the consumer can buy the magazine at checkout, this allows theretailer to earn a percent of the subscription without having toinventory merchandise. The subscriptions are non-SKU (stock keepingunit), non-inventoried items.

In one aspect, the invention provides a computer network implementedsystem and method, comprising the step of: receiving a CID; storing saidCID in memory in association with an invitation code when dataassociated with said CID meets invitation offer criteria associated withsaid invitation code; storing in association with said invitation codecontract terms comprising terms for a contract for a subscription to aperiodical publication; transmitting to an offer terminal data definingsaid CID and said invitation code in order to provide an invitation to aconsumer; receiving from an acceptance terminal said invitation code inassociation with said CID subsequent to said transmitting indicatingacceptance of said invitation by said consumer; and storing said CID inassociation with a transaction tracking code.

The foregoing offer terminal preferably comprises an in store POSterminal, but could also be a printer at a facility for mailinginvitations to an address associated with a CID or a computer in aconsumer's home.

Additional aspects include means for determining whether consumer dataassociated with said CID meets said invitation offer criteria; whereinsaid invitation offer criteria comprises criteria for POS data; whereinsaid invitation offer criteria comprises criteria for block data;wherein said invitation offer criteria comprises criteria for preferencedata; wherein said invitation offer criteria comprises criteria forprofile data; wherein said invitation offer criteria comprises criteriafor demographic data; wherein said invitation offer criteria comprisescriteria for magazine purchases; wherein said contract terms comprise aname of said periodical publication; wherein said contract termscomprise a price for said subscription; wherein said contract termscomprise an expiration date for said invitation; wherein said contractterms include terms of an incentive offer; wherein said terms of saidincentive offer include acceptance of said invitation; wherein saidterms of said incentive offer include a cash discount; wherein saidtransmitting comprises transmitting when said CID is involved in atransaction at said offer terminal; further comprising, updating aninvitation offer record in an invitation offer database to indicate codeassociated with said record has been used in an invitation offered to acustomer; wherein said invitation offer record also stores at least oneof the following items: a name of a periodical publication, asubscription price, an offer expiration date, and an incentive offer;wherein said invitation offer record also stores at least two of thefollowing items: a name of a periodical publication, a subscriptionprice, an offer expiration date, and an incentive offer; furthercomprising generating or updating a consumer invitation record in aconsumer invitation database to store a CID and a unique code; whereinsaid consumer invitation record also stores at least one or two of thefollowing items: a name of a periodical publication, a subscriptionprice, an invitation expiration date, incentive offer, subscriptionterm; wherein said consumer invitation record also stores dataindicating whether said invitation has been provided to said consumer;further comprises receiving payment for said subscription when receivingfrom said acceptance terminal said invitation cod; further comprisingreceiving payment for product purchases concurrently with receiving saidpayment for said subscription; further comprising generating a consumerconfirmation record in a consumer confirmation database after receivingfrom said acceptance terminal said invitation code; wherein saidconsumer confirmation record includes a CID and a transaction trackingcode; wherein said consumer confirmation record also includes at leastone of the following items: a name of a periodical publication, asubscription price, a subscription term, a confirmation activationexpiration date, an incentive offer, and an incentive offer expirationdate; wherein said consumer confirmation record also includes at leasttwo of the following items: a name of a periodical publication, asubscription price, a subscription term, a confirmation activationexpiration date, an incentive offer, and an incentive offer expirationdate; wherein at least one criteria of said invitation offer criteria iswhether a magazine is purchased; wherein at least one criteria of saidinvitation offer criteria is whether said consumer user is in aspecified top fraction of spenders; wherein said invitation is providedto said consumer via direct mail; wherein said invitation is provided tosaid consumer via printing at an in-store printer; further comprisingactivating said subscription; wherein said activating comprisesreceiving at an activation center a telephone call from said consumer;wherein said activating comprises receiving a mailing from saidconsumer; wherein said activating comprises receiving activation datatransmitted by said consumer over the Internet; further comprisingprinting said invitation and including a printed unique bar code;wherein magazine name, magazine subscription price, and offer expirationdate are encrypted in said unique bar code; wherein magazine name,magazine subscription price and offer expiration date are encrypted insaid transaction tracking cod; further comprising providing at least twoof the following items: a retail store computer system, a centralcomputer system; an activation center computer system, a publishercomputer system, a mailing facility computer system, and a couponclearing house computer system; further comprising providing at leastthree of the following items: a retail store computer system, a centralcomputer system; an activation center computer system, a publishercomputer system, a mailing facility computer system, and a couponclearing house computer system; further comprising storing POS data inassociation with CIDS in a consumer data database; and wherein saidconsumer data database also stores in association with CIDs at least oneof the following items: profile data, preference data, demographic data,and block data.

In a preferred embodiment, when or after a consumer purchases goods inretail store, the retail store's computer system transfers consumertransaction data and product purchase data to central computer system.Central computer system then generates an invitation based on theconsumer purchase product data. Computer system transfers the invitationto the consumer via in-store printer. The invitation contains anexpiration date, an incentive for the magazine and/or groceries at theretail store, a unique bar code, a title of a periodical, such as amagazine, the price of the periodical, and instructions on how to usethe invitation to purchase a subscription for a periodical. Theinstructions preferably indicates that the customer will receive acoupon for money off the customer's next shopping order, and indicatesthat instruction on how to activate the subscription will be printed ona confirmation to be received when the consumer accepts the invitation.The confirmation preferably include a telephone number to call foractivation. The invitation may indicate when to expect arrival of issuesof the subscription.

When a cashier at a POS terminal enters the code on an invitation intothe POS system, the cost of the subscription indicated in the invitationis added to the consumers total charge for current purchases. Next, aconfirmation message is printed on an in-store printer. A cash incentivefor a future shopping trip at the participating retailer may also beprinted on an in-store printer and handed to the consumer.

The printed confirmation includes confirmation of order (magazine name,term, price), a term by which the subscription must be activated, atransaction tracking code, instructions for activation, and an incentiveoffer for shopping at the retail store. For example, instructions thatare printed on the confirmation for activation may include using atouch-tone phone to call a telephone number within a certain time periodof receipt of confirmation. Instructions may instruct the consumer toprovide consumer's tracking number and their name and address. Theconfirmation may also state legal text including the expected arrival ofissues of the subscription once activated, and the cancellation policy.The confirmation preferably instructs the consumer to retain the cashregister receipt and the confirmation as verification of thesubscription. The confirmation preferably states that, if 24 consecutivemonths pass before the paid confirmation is activated, the publisherreserves the right to charge a service fee for the subscription and, ifthe post office notifies the customer that the magazine isundeliverable, the mailing facility has no further obligation unlessthey receive a corrected address within two years.

The confirmation may also contain a cash incentive offer for theconsumer contingent upon accepting the invention, in which case the cashincentive can be obtained at the retail store. The confirmation maycontains an expiration date, a unique bar code, and an indication of thevalue of the incentive to which the consumer is entitled. For example,everyone who accepts an invitation to a subscription to Time magazinemay receive $5.00 off the total charge for their next shoppingtransaction in the retail store where they obtained the invitation. Theincentive is typically paid for by the company that owns the magazine.

The consumer then calls a toll free number to activate the subscriptionand may also confirm the order information. Consumer will then receiveissues of the subscription, delivered by a mailing facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system overview;

FIG. 2 is an overview of a retail store computer system;

FIG. 3 is a database record for the consumer database product purchasehistory;

FIG. 4 is a database record of available invitations;

FIG. 5 is a database record of a consumer invitation;

FIG. 5A is a database record of necessary fields of a consumerinvitation;

FIG. 5B is a database record of option fields of a consumer invitation;

FIG. 6 is a database record of consumer acceptance;

FIG. 7 is a high level view flowchart showing the steps of the inventiveprocesses;

FIG. 8 is a middle level flowchart showing steps for deciding to providean invitation corresponding to step 710 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a middle level flowchart showing steps for receiving paymentand activating subscription corresponding to steps 730 and 740 of FIG.7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The same reference numeral refers to the same or corresponding elementsthroughout the figures.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of computer network system 1, including network10, preferably the Internet, central computer system 2, retail storecomputer system 3, mailing facility computer system 4, publishercomputer system 5, activation center computer system 6, and couponclearing house computer system 7. FIG. 1 also shows databases 12, 13,14, 15, 16, and 17, one of which is associated with each one of computersystems 12-17, respectively. The lines connecting elements in FIG. 1indicate a means for data transmission including include wire andwireless transmission hardware, data format, and transmission protocols.

Each one of computer systems 2-7 includes at least one digital computerincluding associated central processor, memory, input, and outputdevices.

There is a legal entity that owns central computer system 2, referred toherein as the marketing company. The marketing company preferably sellsmarketing services to other entities, including publishers of periodicalpublications. Central computer system 2 preferably functions todetermine wether to offer an invitation to a consumer identified with adata record associated with retail store computer system 3, and, whenthe determination is to offer the consumer an invitation, transmits aninstruction to retail store computer system 3 to offer that consumerthat invitation. Central computer system 2 may also function to performthe functions of any of the other computer systems shown in FIG. 1.

There are one or more retail stores associated with retail storecomputer system 3. Retail store computer system 3 preferably functionsto control transactions recorded at POS terminals associated with theforegoing retail stores.

There is a mailing facility associated with mailing facility computersystem 4. The mailing facility is a facility that mails items. Themailing facility may mail invitations to postal addresses of consumers.The mailing facility may mail issues of printed periodicals to postaladdresses of consumers. The mailing facility may be operated by afulfillment center, which is an organization that mail postal items forother entities on a contract basis. Mailing facility computer system 4preferably functions to account for mailings performed by the associatedmailing facility.

There is a publisher associated with publisher computer system 5. Thepublisher is the legal entity that publishes issues of a periodicalpublication. In the context of this application, the publisher alsomeans the entity that receives remuneration for selling issues of itsperiodical publication, even though in certain instances publisherscontract out the actual publication of their periodicals to printingcompanies. Publisher computer system 5 preferably functions to accountfor transactions involving the publisher, which may include datarelating to invitation offers and acceptances, subscriptions for theperiodical publication, accounts with retailers, and accounts withmarketing companies.

There is an activation center associated with activation center computersystem 6. The activation center is the location where consumers maytelephone to activate the subscriptions they purchase. The activationcenter will then process their order and forward the information on thefulfillment house 5. Activation center computer system 6 preferablyfunctions to account for subscription that have been activated,preferably stores activation information in database 16, and preferablycommunicates instructions for fulfilling subscription contracts to themailing facility 4 or mailing facility computer system 14, andpreferably communicates information indicating invitations accepted orsubscriptions that have been activated to the publisher or publishercomputer system 5.

There is a coupon clearing house associated with coupon clearing housecomputer system 7. The coupon clearing house is a facility where couponsredeemed are counted and reconciled with the retailers andmanufacturer's data indicating the number of coupons redeemed. Couponclearing house computer system 7 preferably functions to count couponsredeemed and report information regarding reconciliation of couponcounts to retailers and manufacturers.

The entities associated with computer systems 2-7 are each associated inFIG. 1 with a computer system and Internet connection for convenience.Not all of that functionality is required to implement certainembodiments of the invention.

The marketing services provided by the marketing company includemarketing of invitations. The marketing company preferably offersinvitation marketing programs to publishers of periodicals andretailers. An invitation marketing program consists of offeringinvitations to consumers meeting invitation offer criteria based uponPOS data associated with the consumers. The marketing company may usecentral computer system 2 to analyze POS data for consumers stored incentral computer system 2's database 12 to determine consumer recordsmeeting invitation offer criteria. Alternatively, the marketing companymay provide to the legal entity owning retail computer system 3 softwareto perform invitation offer criteria analysis on POS data stored inretail computer system 3's database 13. The marketing company usescentral computer system 2 and data in its database 12, via data miningtechniques applied to historical POS data and historical invitationmarketing programs data to determine statistical likelihoods of aconsumer associated with certain data to respond to a specifiedinvitation by accepting the invitation.

FIG. 2 shows details of retail store computer system 3. Retail storecomputer system 3 manages data relating preferably one retail store.Retail store computer system 3 includes in-store server 200, productdatabase 210, first POS terminal 230, and optionally second POSterminal, third POS terminal 250, etc. Each POS terminal preferablyincludes a printer.

Retail store computer system 3 may also include kiosk 260, secondarycomputer 270, and one or both of product purchase database 280 andproduct purchase database 220.

In one embodiment, kiosk 260 is where consumers receive invitations oraccept invitations, or both. Kiosk 260 preferably includes means to reada consumer identification so that in-store server 200 or centralcomputer system 2 can respond accordingly.

In various embodiments, a database, such as 210, 220, or 280 also storesdata indicating consumers to whom to offer invitations, or database 12stores data indicating consumers to whom to offer invitations. In otherembodiments, retail computer system 2 or central computer system 2determines whether and which invitations to offer to a consumer while aconsumer is determined to be at a POS terminal or a Kiosk. Consumers aredetermined to be at a terminal or a Kiosk when they are identified by adevice reading a CID or by the consumer entering identificationinformation into an input device, such as a keyboard or mouse.Determining whether and which invitations to offer to a consumer while aconsumer is determined to be at a POS terminal or a Kiosk and thenoffering the consumer the determined invitations is defined herein as“real time” invitation offering.

FIG. 3 shows a representation of product purchase record 301. Productpurchase record 301 represents data for a transaction. It shows fieldsnames for field of record 301. Each field stores corresponding data.Each product purchase record in a product purchase database generallycontains the fields identified in product purchase database record 301,although in different data structures. Preferably, a product purchasedatabase is contained in central computer system 2's database 12 andretail store computer system 3's database 13.

Product purchase record 301 preferably includes consumer name field 305,consumer address field 310, telephone number field 315, email addressfield 320, CID field 325, UPCs field 330, date of transaction field 335,prices of items purchased field 340, credit card type field 345, creditcard number field 350, credit card expiration date field 355, frequentshopper identification code field 360.

Consumer name field 305 stores the name of a consumer provided by theconsumer or associated with the consumer's CD. Frequent shopperidentification code field 360 stores the code on a frequent shopper cardassociated with a consumer. Consumer address field 310 stores theaddress of the consumer, including street address, city, state, and zipcode. Telephone number field 315 stores the consumer's telephone number,including home phone, work phone, and cell phone numbers. Email addressfield 320 stores the email address of the consumer. CID field 325 storesa CID linked to a consumer. UPCs field 330 stores UPCs of productspurchased in association with either the CID or frequent shopper card1D. Date of transaction field 335 stores the date of the transactiondata for which is stored in purchase record 301. Price of itemspurchased field 340 stores the prices for the individual itemsidentified by the UPCs in UPCs field 330. Credit card type 345 storesthe type of credit card, if products were purchased by credit card, suchas Visa or Mastercard. Credit card number field 350 stores the creditcard number used during the transaction relating to product purchaserecord 301. Credit card expiration date field 355 stores the date inwhich the credit card identified in credit card number field 350expires. Frequent shopper ID field 360 stores a frequent shopper cardidentification associated with the CID. Product purchase record 301 isexemplary only since may different formats may be used to store POS dataassociated with a consumer. For example, data may be reorganized so thatconsumer name and address information is not duplicated in each consumertransaction record, and data may be reorganized and stored by productinstead of transaction.

FIG. 4 shows a representation of invitation offer record 401. Invitationoffer record 401 represents data for an invitation that is available foran invitation offer. It shows fields names for fields of record 401.Each field stores corresponding data. Each invitation offer record in aninvitation offers database generally contains data for the field namesshown in invitation offer record 401. Preferably, an invitation offersdatabase is contained in central computer system 2's database 12 andretail store computer system 3's database 13.

Invitation offer record 401 preferably includes magazine name field 410,subscription price field 420, offer expiration date field 430, cashincentive field 440, and unique bar code field 450. Optionally,invitation offer record 401 includes additional fields 460 identifyingadditional invitation offer terms. Optionally, invitation offer record401 includes USED field 470, which may store a boolean value indicatingwhether the corresponding unique bar code 450 has been used in an offerof an invitation.

If the invitation is an offer to purchase a product or service otherthan a periodical subscription, the magazine name field 401 contains thedescription of the product or service offered, and the optional fieldsfor recording subscription related information are not included. Whilethe disclosure below discusses field names in terms of magazines,aspects of the invention may be applicable to any periodicalsubscription, product, or service.

Magazine name 410 stores the name of the magazine or other periodicalpublication, product, or service for which an invitation is offered.Subscription price 420 stores the price of the subscription associatedwith the invitation. Offer expiration data 430 stores the date when theinvitation will expire. Cash incentive 440 stores the incentive for theretail store that a consumer will receive if they purchase a magazinesubscription from the retail store. Unique bar code 450 stores datadefining a code, including terms identifying the offer such as magazinename, price, and offer expiration date.

FIG. 5A shows a representation of consumer invitation record 501.Consumer invitation record 501 represents data associated with aninvitation offer. It shows field names for fields of record 501. Eachfield stores corresponding data. Each consumer invitation record in aconsumer invitations database generally preferably contains data for atleast the field names shown in FIG. 5B, which are CID field 540 andunique bar code field 550. Each consumer invitation record may alsocontain the additional fields and data shown in records in FIGS. 5A and5C. Preferably, a consumer invitations database is contained in centralcomputer system 2's database 12. A consumer invitations database mayalso be stored in publisher computer system 5's database 15, activationcenter computer system 6's database 16, and retailer computer system13'sdatabase 13.

Consumer invitation record 501 includes magazine name field 510,subscription price field 520, invitation expiration data field 530, CIDfield 540, unique bar code field 550, cash incentive amount field 560,and subscription term fields 570 a . . . 570 n. The database may containmultiple subscription terms such as 580. Preferably, consumer invitationrecord 501 also includes a PROVIDED field 580, which stores a booleanvalue indicating whether the corresponding invitation has actually beenprovided to the consumer.

Magazine name field 510 stores the name of the periodical publicationthat was offered to the consumer. Subscription price field 520 storesthe invitation's price of the subscription for the magazine. Invitationexpiration date field 530 stores the date when the invitation willexpire. CID field 540 stores a CID linked to a consumer. Unique bar codefield 550 stores data defining a code, associated with the invitation.This code is associated in a database with terms identifying thecorresponding subscription offer, such as magazine name, price, andoffer expiration date. Cash incentive amount field 560 stores the amountof a cash incentive that a consumer will receive at a retail store ifthey accept the invitation at the retail store. Subscription term afield 570 a stores a description of a contractual term of thesubscription. Subscription term 570 b, . . . 570 n store additionalcontractual terms of the subscription.

FIG. 5B shows necessary fields 540 and 550 for consumer invitationrecords. The necessary fields are the CID field 540 and the unique barcode field 550.

FIG. 5C shows optional fields for consumer invitation records. Theoptional fields are the magazine name field 510, subscription pricefield 520, invitation expiration data field 530, cash incentive amountfield 560, subscription term fields 570 a-570 n.

FIG. 6 shows a representation of consumer confirmation record 601.Consumer confirmation record 601 represent data indicating a consumerhas accepted an invitation. It shows field names for fields of consumerconfirmation record 601. Each field stores corresponding data. Eachconsumer confirmation record in a consumer confirmations databasegenerally contains data for the fields whose names are shown in consumerconfirmation record 601. Preferably, a consumer confirmation recordsdatabase is contained in activation center computer system 6's database16 and in central computer system 2's database 12, and in mailingfacility computer system 4's database 14.

Consumer confirmation record 601 preferably includes CID field 610,magazine name field 620, subscription price field 630, subscription termfield 640, confirmation activation expiration field 650, cash incentivefield 660, cash incentive expiration date field 670, and uniquetransaction tracking code field 680.

CID field 610 stores a consumer's CID. Magazine name field 620 storesthe name of the periodical publication identified in the invitationprovided to the consumer. Subscription price field 630 stores the priceof the subscription identified in the invitation. Confirmationactivation expiration date field 650 stores the time period during whichthe consumer can accept the invitation or the final date upon which theconsumer can accept the invitation. Cash incentive field 660 stores thevalue of a cash incentive that the retail store will provide to theconsumer if the consumer accepts the invitation from the retail store.Cash incentive expiration field 670 stores the date prior to which theconsumer must obtain the cash incentive. Unique transaction trackingcode field 680 stores the data for a unique code that is printed on theconfirmation, and with which is preferably associated magazine name,subscription price, and consumer name.

In overview of the method of operation of the invention, retail storecomputer system 3 receives POS data when a customer purchases products,which data is associated with the customer's CID. The POS data is storedin one or more product purchase databases, such as in databases 12, 13,210, and 220. Additional data associated with the CID may be stored inthose databases, including the consumer's demographic data, theconsumer's profile data, and the consumer's block data.

A computer system (such as retail store computer system 3 or centralcomputer system 2) having access to the POS data and optionally otherdata receives data relating to a marketing program involving aperiodical publication or other non stocked product or service, such asthe name of the publication or non stocked item, terms of subscriptions,and number of invitations that can be generated. The computer systemreceives or determines invitation offer criteria, access to the POSdata, and identifies consumer CIDs for consumers whose associated data(including any one or more of the consumer's POS data, the consumer'sdemographic data, the consumer's profile data, and the consumer's blockdata) meets the invitation offer criteria. The computer system transmitsCIDs selected because their associated data met the invitation offercriteria to a facility for delivery to the corresponding consumer, suchas a retail store for POS terminal or Kiosk delivery of an invitation,or to a mailing center for mailing to the consumer.

The consumer can accept the invitation at a POS terminal or a Kiosk in aretail store, in which case the acceptance information is recorded atthe POS and the customer is provided with a confirmation and optionallyactivation instructions. The activation instructions may instruct theconsumer to telephone a particular number to complete the subscriptionprocess, for example, by providing a code associated with theconfirmation, or providing or confirming a mailing address or otherinformation.

Once a subscription is activated, mailing instructions are transmittedto the mailing facility, which then effects either mailing of theproduct purchased by the consumer or periodic mailings of issues of theperiodical publication to which the consumer has subscribed. If aservice was purchased, the activation information is transmitted to theapplicable service provider (such as a satellite TV, cable TV, orInternet) service provider.

The method of the invention is now described with reference to FIGS.7-10.

FIG. 7 is high level flowchart 701. High level flowchart 701 includesthe steps of deciding to provide invitation 710, providing invitation720, receiving payment 730, and activating subscription 740.

In step 710, central computer system 2 decides whether to offer aninvitation.

In step 720, central computer system 2 provides the customer aninvitation.

In step 730, the customer purchases the magazine subscription at thepoint of sale by ringing the invitation to the store and paying theprice indicated on the invitation. In response, the central computersystem 2 will provide the consumer a confirmation.

In step 740, the customer activates the subscription, preferably bycalling a telephone number shown on the confirmation. In response toreceipt of the telephone call, activation center 6 stores the activationinformation in activation center 6's database 16.

In step 710, central computer system 2 decides whether to offer aninvitation by applying invitation offer criteria that depends uponvalues of POS data and optionally other data associated with theconsumer, such as the consumer's prior product purchases, concurrentproduct purchases, concurrent transaction data, demographic data,preference data, profile data, and block data.

Preference data is data indicating the consumer's preferences. Profiledata is data derived from POS data correlated to statistically derivedpreference data. Block data is statistical data derived for a relativelysmall geographic region, such as a street, a block, a sub-division, or asection of a town.

Invitation offer criteria may include any one or more of the following:whether the consumer previously bought a magazine, a newspaper, isprofiled or classified as within a certain group, such as a group ofconsumers spending more than a specified value per time period, isclassified as within a specified top fraction of spenders, such the top50%, 30%, or 10% of spenders, or a group profiled to have a preferencefor a certain sport or hobby, such as hunting, cooking, sports,politics, etc., whether the consumer's block data meets certaincriteria, such as income level, number of cars, number of familymembers, number of children, whether the consumer's purchases indicatethat the consumer has a demographic associated with the content of acertain periodical publication, whether the consumer has purchased aperiodical with content similar the content of a periodical publicationfor which an invitation may be offered (a competing periodical), whetherthe consumer frequently purchases issues of periodical publications,whether the consumer infrequently purchases issues of periodicalpublications, and whether the consumer purchases products associatedwith reading periodical publications, such as coffee or orange juice.

In one embodiment, the central computer system selects consumers basedon data indicating which magazines they purchased. For example,invitations for a subscription to “People” magazine will be given to aconsumer who purchases an issue of People. In another example, aconsumer that purchases Time may be given an invitation for asubscription to Newsweek, since Time and Newsweek have similar contentand therefore compete with one another for sales to consumers. That is,the system may, in response to noticing that the consumer has purchasesan issue of a periodical publication, offer the consumer a subscriptionto a competing periodical publication during the consumer's same or asubsequent shopping visit.

Central computer system 2 can perform step 710 at any time. Centralcomputer system 2 can perform step 710 in response to receipt of datafrom retail store computer system 3, at predetermined times, such asmidnight every night, or in response to a command received via an inputdevice from an operator. Central computer system 2 can store in database12 the decision whether to offer an invitation to a customer.

Central computer system 2 can also decide whether to provide thecustomer an invitation in response to receipt of data at POS terminal230 or Kiosk 260 in retail store computer system 3 indicating that thecustomer is in the process of making a transaction at that terminal.Central computer system 2 can transmit the decision to retail storecomputer system 3 in which case retail store computer system 3 caninstruct POS terminal 230 or Kiosk 260 to provide an invitation to theconsumer.

Central computer system 2 can transmit the decision whether to offer aninvitation to the customer to retail store computer system 3 at anytime, such as immediately after central computer system 2 makes itsdetermination, at predetermined times, such as midnight every night,upon a command received via an input device from an operator, and upon arequest to transmit received from retail store computer system 3.

Alternatively, retail store computer system 3 can decide whether tooffer an invitation to a customer. Retail store computer system candecide to offer the invitation based upon applying invitation offercriteria to data stored in retail store computer system's database 13(alternatively including databases 220 and 270), by applying invitationoffer criteria to data as it is received from POS terminal 230 or Kiosk260, or predetermined times, in response to a command received from anoperator, or in response to a command received from central computersystem 2.

In step 720, if central computer system receives data from retail storecomputer system 3 (including data received directly from POS terminal230 or Kiosk 260), central computer system 2 can transmit instructionsdirectly to POS terminal 230, Kiosk 260, secondary computer 270, orin-store server 200 to provide an invitation to the consumer during thetransaction.

In step 720, retail store computer system 3 may instruct POS terminal230 or Kiosk 260 to generate or print an invitation in response toreceipt of data indicating that the customer is at POS terminal 230 orKiosk 260, such as receipt of the customer's CID from POS terminal 230or Kiosk 260.

POS terminal 230 or Kiosk 260 can print the invitation when the consumeris present. Alternatively, they can transmit the invitation to ahandheld computer or similar wireless device having wirelesstransmission and the ability to store electronic documents that isassociated with the consumer, also called a personal digital assistant(PDA).

Either central computer system 2 or retail store computer system 3 mayinstruct mailing facility 4 to generate and postal mail or email aninvitation to a consumer's postal address or email address.

In step 730, the consumer may accept the invitation and pay for thesubscription at POS terminal 230 or Kiosk 260. The consumer may do thisin connection with another transaction at POS terminal 230, such aspurchase of grocery products.

The consumer can provide a printed invitation to POS terminal 230 orKiosk 260 in which case preferably a scanner associated with POSterminal 230 or Kiosk 260 reads a bar code on the invitation uniquelyidentifying the invitation and the consumer. Alternatively, the consumermay instruct the consumer's PDA to transmit an acceptance to of theinvitation to POS terminal 230 or Kiosk 260.

In step 730, POS terminal 230 records POS data and acceptance by theconsumer of the invitation and transmits that data to in-store server200. In-store server 200 preferably transmits the POS data to centralcomputer system 2, and it may store the data in database 13.

Preferably, as part of step 730, the POS terminal 230 or Kiosk 260prints or transmits to the consumer's PDA a confirmation. Preferably,associated with the confirmation is a unique code. If the confirmationis a printed document, the code is preferably realized as a scannerreadable bar code. The confirmation may include additional information,either in human or machine readable form, including the name and addressof the consumer, and the consumer's CID). The confirmation includeshuman readable instructions for activating the subscription.

In step 740, the consumer follows the instructions in the confirmationto activate the subscription.

In step 740, if the confirmation is a printed document, the consumertelephones a number contacting a person at the activation center or theactivation computer system 6 to activate the paid for subscription. Theactivation system 6 saves the consumer name, address, and type ofmagazine purchased in the activation center computer system 6's database16. The activation center computer system 6 preferably sends this datato the publisher computer system 5, and possibly to the mailing facilitycomputer system 4. Publisher computer system 5 saves this data in adatabase and preferably sends an order to mailing facility computersystem 4 to fulfill the subscription. Alternatively, central computersystem 2 can perform the activation functions of activation computersystem 6 and publisher computer system 5.

Alternatively, combining steps 730 and 740, the consumer may fill out aform authorizing credit (for example to charge the consumer's creditcard) or attach a check to the invitation to effect payment for asubscription, fill out any additional information requested by writingon the invitation (such as name, postal mailing address, email address,and CID), and mail that to the activation center associated withactivation center computer system 6, thereby indicating acceptance ofthe invitation and paying for the invitation. Personnel at theactivation center enter data provided by the consumer's acceptance intoactivation center computer system 6, which stores that data in itsdatabase 16. If there is an incentive for the retail store associatedwith retail store computer system 3 included in the accepted invitation,activation center computer system 6 can transmit the identify of theconsumer (eg., the consumer's CID) and the acceptance of the invitationor the specified incentive information to retail store computer system3. Retail store computer system 3 can provide the incentive to theconsumer at the POS contingent upon the consumer fulfilling anyoutstanding preconditions associated with the incentive offer, such aspurchasing a larger dollar value than the amount of a cash incentive.

Invitations accepted at the POS are forwarded to coupon clearing houseassociated with computer system 7, where the number of acceptedinvitations may be counted and reconciled with the accounts of theretailer and the publisher regarding the number of invitations accepted.

In addition, central computer system 2, retail computer system 3,publisher computer system 4, or activation center computer system 6 maystore data indicating acceptances, and generate accounting informationfor distributing credits for accepted invitations (including charges forsubscription sales and costs for incentives) according to a predefinedbusiness arrangement between any number of the owners of centralcomputer system 2, retail store computer system 3, mailing facilitycomputer system 4, publisher computer system 5, activation centercomputer system 6, and coupon clearinghouse computer system 7. Based theowners of systems 2-7 transfer funds amongst their respective financialaccounts.

FIG. 8 is a middle level flowchart showing exemplary steps for step 710,deciding to provide an invitation to a consumer. FIG. 8 includes steps810 for accessing consumer POS data, 820 for determining whether amagazine was purchased by the consumer, 830 for determining whether theuser was in the top 30 percent of spenders, 840 determining whether theconsumer's POS data meets other criteria, and step 850 deciding to offerno invitation. This function is preferably performed by central computersystem 2 or secondary computer system 270.

A positive decision in steps 820, 830, or 840 results in storing adecision to offer an invitation to the consumer, and storing of thatdecision in a database. The process of storing the decision involveseither deleting one invitation offer record (see FIG. 4) for thecorresponding invitation from an invitation offer database or enteringdata in an invitation offer record indicating that the correspondingunique bar code 450 has been used in an invitation offered to aconsumer, such as by changing a boolean value in the USED field 470. Theprocess of storing the decision also involves generating a new consumerinvitation record in the consumer invitation record database. Uponactually providing an invitation to a consumer, preferably invitationoffer record 401 is updated to indicate in the USED field 470 that theinvitation has actually been provided to the consumer.

FIG. 9 is a middle level flowchart showing steps for receiving payment730 and activating subscription 740. FIG. 9 includes step 920 forreading invitation data and payment data at POS terminal 230, step 930for transmitting data from POS terminal 230 to central computer system2, step 940 for transmitting data from central computer system 2 toactivation center computer system 6, step 950 for providing a consumerconfirmation and incentive value, step 960 for activating a subscriptionin activation center computer system 960, step 970 for transmittingactivation data to central computer system 2, and step 980 fortransmitting activation data to mailing facility computer system 4.

In step 920, POS terminal 230 reads the unique bar code on theinvitation and receives payment data.

In step 930, the POS transfers data via in-store server 200 to centralcomputer system 2 acceptance data. In response, central computer system2 stores the acceptance data in consumer confirmation record 601.

In step 940, preferably central computer system 2 transfers the consumerconfirmation record 601 to activation center computer system 6. Inresponse, activation center computer system 6 stores this information inits database 16.

In step 950, the consumer receives preferably from POS terminal 230 aprinted confirmation and any cash incentive or discount on purchasesincluded in the invitation. In the preferred embodiment the incentiveoffer included in the invitation is a cash incentive limited toredemption in the retail store.

In step 960, the consumer contacts the activation center, preferably bytelephoning a telephone number appearing on a printed confirmation. Thetelephone number is preferably a telephone number for the activationcenter computer system 6. The activation center computer system 6records the activation of the subscription.

In step 970, the activation center computer system 6 transmits theactivation information to central computer system 2.

In step 980, central computer system 2 transmits the activation data tomailing facility computer system 4. This information is then used to bythe mailing facility to deliver to the consumer issues of the periodicalpublication defined by the subscription.

In particular, the preferred embodiment of the novel system and methodfor offering incentives and subscriptions to consumers are based on POSpurchase data, and use POS technology to communicate with the consumers.Invitations are delivered with a unique bar code that identifies theperiodical publication's name, term and price for the offeredsubscription. Once the consumer purchases the magazine subscription, thesystem delivers a confirmation message that includes a unique trackingcode, confirmation of order (magazine name, term, price) and cash valueincentive. It will be appreciated that, although a limited number ofembodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposesof illustration, various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the inventionshould not be limited except as by the appended claims.

1. A computer network implemented method, comprising: receiving a CID;storing said CID in memory in association with an invitation code whendata associated with said CID meets invitation offer criteria associatedwith said invitation code; storing in association with said invitationcode contract terms comprising terms for a contract for a subscriptionto a periodical publication; transmitting to an offer terminal datadefining said CID and said invitation code in order to provide aninvitation to a consumer; receiving from an acceptance terminal saidinvitation code in association with said CID subsequent to saidtransmitting indicating acceptance of said invitation by said consumer;and storing said CID in association with a transaction tracking code. 2.The method of claim 1 further comprising determining whether consumerdata associated with said CID meets said invitation offer criteria. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein said invitation offer criteria comprisescriteria for POS data.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein said invitationoffer criteria comprises criteria for block data.
 5. The method of claim2 wherein said invitation offer criteria comprises criteria forpreference data.
 6. The method of claim 2 wherein said invitation offercriteria comprises criteria for profile data.
 7. The method of claim 2wherein said invitation offer criteria comprises criteria fordemographic data.
 8. The method of claim 2 wherein said invitation offercriteria comprises criteria for magazine purchases.
 9. The method ofclaim 1 wherein said contract terms comprise a name of said periodicalpublication.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said contract termscomprise a price for said subscription.
 11. The method of claim 1wherein said contract terms comprise an expiration date for saidinvitation.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said contract termsinclude terms of an incentive offer.
 13. The method of claim 12 whereinsaid terms of said incentive offer include acceptance of saidinvitation.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said terms of saidincentive offer include a cash discount.
 15. The method of claim 1wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting when said CID isinvolved in a transaction at said offer terminal.
 16. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising updating an invitation offer record in aninvitation offer database to indicate code associated with said recordhas been used in an invitation offered to a customer.
 17. The method ofclaim 16 wherein said invitation offer record also stores at least oneof the following items: a name of a periodical publication, asubscription price, an offer expiration date, and an incentive offer.18. The method of claim 16 wherein said invitation offer record alsostores at least two of the following items: a name of a periodicalpublication, a subscription price, an offer expiration date, and anincentive offer.
 19. The method of claim 1 further comprising generatingor updating a consumer invitation record in a consumer invitationdatabase to store a CID and a unique code.
 20. The method of claim 19wherein said consumer invitation record also stores at least one of thefollowing items: a name of a periodical publication, a subscriptionprice, an invitation expiration date, incentive offer, subscriptionterm.
 21. The method of claim 19 wherein said consumer invitation recordalso stores at least two of the following items: a name of a periodicalpublication, a subscription price, an invitation expiration date,incentive offer, subscription term.
 22. The method of claim 19 whereinsaid consumer invitation record also stores data indicating whether saidinvitation has been provided to said consumer.
 23. The method of claim 1further comprises receiving payment for said subscription when receivingfrom said acceptance terminal said invitation code.
 24. The method ofclaim 23 further comprising receiving payment for product purchasesconcurrently with receiving said payment for said subscription.
 25. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising generating a consumer confirmationrecord in a consumer confirmation database after receiving from saidacceptance terminal said invitation code.
 26. The method of claim 25wherein said consumer confirmation record includes a CID and atransaction tracking code.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein saidconsumer confirmation record also includes at least one of the followingitems: a name of a periodical publication, a subscription price, asubscription term, a confirmation activation expiration date, anincentive offer, and an incentive offer expiration date.
 28. The methodof claim 26 wherein said consumer confirmation record also includes atleast two of the following items: a name of a periodical publication, asubscription price, a subscription term, a confirmation activationexpiration date, an incentive offer, and an incentive offer expirationdate.
 29. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one criteria of saidinvitation offer criteria is whether a magazine is purchased.
 30. Themethod of claim 1 wherein at least one criteria of said invitation offercriteria is whether said consumer user is in a specified top fraction ofspenders.
 31. The method of claim 1 wherein said invitation is providedto said consumer via direct mail.
 32. The method of claim 1 wherein saidinvitation is provided to said consumer via printing at an in-storeprinter.
 33. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating saidsubscription.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein said activatingcomprises receiving at an activation center a telephone call from saidconsumer.
 35. The method of claim 33 wherein said activating comprisesreceiving a mailing from said consumer.
 36. The method of claim 33wherein said activating comprises receiving activation data transmittedby said consumer over the Internet.
 37. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising printing said invitation and including a printed unique barcode.
 38. The method of claim 37 wherein magazine name, magazinesubscription price, and offer expiration date are encrypted in saidunique bar code.
 39. The method of claim 1 wherein magazine name,magazine subscription price and offer expiration date are encrypted insaid transaction tracking code.
 40. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising providing at least two of the following items: a retail storecomputer system, a central computer system; an activation centercomputer system, a publisher computer system, a mailing facilitycomputer system, and a coupon clearing house computer system.
 41. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising providing at least three of thefollowing items: a retail store computer system, a central computersystem; an activation center computer system, a publisher computersystem, a mailing facility computer system, and a coupon clearing housecomputer system.
 42. The method of claim 1 further comprising storingPOS data in association with CIDS in a consumer data database.
 43. Themethod of claim 42 wherein said consumer data database also stores inassociation with CIDs at least one of the following items: profile data,preference data, demographic data, and block data.
 44. A computernetwork system, comprising: a central processor and associated memory; aterminal for receiving a CID; a consumer data database storing data inassociation with CIDs; memory structure for storing said CID inassociation with an invitation code when data in said consumer datadatabase associated with said CID meets invitation offer criteriaassociated with said invitation code; memory structure for storing inassociation with said invitation code contract terms comprising termsfor a contract for a subscription to a periodical publication; an offerterminal; a network transmitter for transmitting to said offer terminaldata defining said CID and said invitation code in order to provide aninvitation to a consumer; an acceptance terminal; a network receiver forreceiving from said acceptance terminal said invitation code inassociation with said CID indicating acceptance of said invitation bysaid consumer; and memory structure for storing said CID in associationwith a transaction tracking code. 45-86. (canceled)
 87. A computernetwork program product, comprising code stored on a computer readablemedium for performing the following steps when loaded on networkedcomputers: receiving a CID; storing said CID in memory in associationwith an invitation code when data associated with said CID meetsinvitation offer criteria associated with said invitation code; storingin association with said invitation code contract terms comprising termsfor a contract for a subscription to a periodical publication;transmitting to an offer terminal data defining said CID and saidinvitation code in order to provide an invitation to a consumer;receiving from an acceptance terminal said invitation code inassociation with said CID subsequent to said transmitting indicatingacceptance of said invitation by said consumer; and storing said CID inassociation with a transaction tracking code.
 88. A computer implementedmethod, comprising: a consumer providing to a POS terminal their CID;storing said CID in memory in association with an invitation code whendata associated with said CID meets invitation offer criteria associatedwith said invitation code; storing in association with said invitationcode contract terms comprising terms for a contract for a subscriptionto a periodical publication; said consumer receiving at a POS terminalan invitation including data defining said CID and said invitation code;said consumer providing to a POS terminal said invitation code inassociation with said CID subsequent to receiving said invitation,thereby indicating acceptance of said invitation by said consumer; andstoring said CID in association with a transaction tracking code.
 89. Acomputer network implemented method, comprising: receiving a CIDassociated with a consumer; storing said CID in memory in associationwith an invitation code when data associated with said CID meetsinvitation offer criteria associated with said invitation code; storingin association with said invitation code contract terms comprising termsfor a contract for at least one of a product and a service; transmittingto an offer terminal data defining said CID and said invitation code inorder to provide an invitation including an offer for said at least oneof a product and a service to said consumer; receiving from anacceptance terminal said invitation code in association with said CIDsubsequent to said transmitting indicating acceptance of said invitationby said consumer; and storing said CID in association with a transactiontracking code.
 90. (canceled)
 91. A computer network system, comprising:a central processor and associated memory; a terminal for receiving aCID associated with a consumer; a consumer data database storing data inassociation with CIDs; memory structure for storing said CID inassociation with an invitation code when data in said consumer datadatabase associated with said CID meets invitation offer criteriaassociated with said invitation code; memory structure for storing inassociation with said invitation code contract terms comprising termsfor a contract for at least one of a product and a service; an offerterminal; a network transmitter for transmitting to said offer terminaldata defining said CID and said invitation code in order to provide aninvitation to purchase said at least one of said product and saidservice to said consumer; an acceptance terminal; a network receiver forreceiving from said acceptance terminal said invitation code inassociation with said CID indicating acceptance of said invitation bysaid consumer; and memory structure for storing said CID in associationwith a transaction tracking code.